We are all aware that there are millions of headache sufferers in the world, more than 45 million Americans alone.  Headaches disrupt the daily routines of people every day and they are recognized as a “legitimate neurobiological disease.”

Dr. Seymore Diamond, executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation and director and founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic said in a recent news8000.com article, “Headache pain is a real and legitimate condition… because headaches can interfere with having a good quality of life, frequent headache sufferers should see a health care provider for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan specific to their needs.”

There are two different types of headaches, primary and secondary.  The most common form of headaches is included in the primary category, tension-type headaches.  About 78 percent of adults experience tension-type headaches, so they are not uncommon. The pain is pressing or tightening, of mild to moderate intensity and occurs on both sides of the head. Migraines are another type of primary headache that affects 29.5 million Americans. Migraines are distinguished by throbbing pain on one side of the head and are often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity. Migraines are often “triggered” by something in one’s environment.

There are some tips from The National Headache Foundation for headache sufferers, they include:

•          Eat regular meals, avoiding food and drinks that are known to trigger headaches, such as  aged cheese, red wine, lunch meats, hot dogs or foods containing monosodium glutamate.
•          Maintain a regular sleeping schedule, even on weekends or during vacations.
•          Implement daily stress-reducing techniques into your life.